Changing class(es)

Classes at LSE, including LSE100 classes, are compulsory for undergraduates and are seen as being central to their learning experience.

Attendance at classes is compulsory and is recorded on LSE for You. Any student who is absent on two consecutive occasions or is regularly absent without good reason will be automatically reported to their academic adviser. Section 3.6, Code of Good Practice for Undergraduate Programmes: Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Undergraduate classes are limited in size to a maximum of 15 students to enable useful discussion and activity to take place. All students wishing to change classes need to make the request via LSE for You|. All requests to change class group must be approved by the Departmental Tutor of the department responsible for the teaching of the course. When submitting this request the student has to give a good reason for wishing to change as some class times (particularly early or late in the day) are less popular with students.

timetabling reasons - such as more than four hours timetabled in a row; or

LSE-sponsored or supported social/community activities.

Reasons that may not be considered to be valid could include playing sport or not getting on with the class teacher. See Section 6.1| for more advice on working with class teachers.

Where there is room in classes, and changing classes does not negatively affect others, departments are encouraged to be flexible and assist class changes. However, in some of the larger departments, requests to change class(es) can reach high levels in the first four weeks of term and stricter rules can be applied. For example, the requirement that all reasons for change need to be supported by written evidence has been used successfully in the Economics Department where applications to change class were very high. Written evidence to support a reason is supplied in the same way as one may ask for a doctor's note to support a case of illness; for example, a supportive letter from a church leader saying that a student is attending worship, or a letter from an employer confirming work hours.

In smaller departments, departmental tutors (DTs) may take a different view and simply check whether there is room in another class. The DT does not allocate students to particular class groups but may indicate preferences, eg 'please move to a class on a Thursday or Friday' or 'please move to another class with the same class teacher', within LSE for You, and the Student Services Centre makes the necessary changes.

Occasionally a DT may wish to add a student to a class that is listed as being full. This requires permission from the Undergraduate Studies Subcommitee. The Registry can provide further information.

Complaints about class teachers often come to the DT, in the first instance, as a request to change class(es). Records should be kept of class changes and of any complaints made against any class teachers. If the same name is raised by more than one student, DTs may need to investigate further and raise the issue with the course proprietor and convener. If DTs have any concerns about class teachers, they are welcome to contact the Teaching and Learning Centre for advice and support. The Language Centre also provides assistance where the problem is related to the comprehensibility of a class teacher. See Section 6.1| for further information concerning working with class teachers.

LSE100: Class change requests for LSE100 are handled by the LSE100 Course office.

Use of this website is subject to, and implies acceptance of, its Terms of use (including Copyright and intellectual property, Privacy and data protection and Accessibility). The London School of Economics and Political Science is a School of the University of London. It is a charity and is incorporated in England as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts (Reg no. 70527).The registered office address of the School is: The London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE, UK; Tel: +44 (0)20 7405 7686